continues, “We are patriotic Americans who share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous U.N. weapons inspections to assure Iraq’s effective disarmament.” And further: “However, a preemptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests. Such a war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world.”

Martin Sheen, Mike Farrell and Tony Shalhoub were among those who spoke to the press December 10. Shalhoub commented, “This notion of preemptive war is setting a precedent ... and we must ask ourselves, where does this end? Where is the next preemptive strike?”

Others signing the letter included Academy Award winners Kim Basinger, Helen Hunt, Olympia Dukakis, Susan Sarandon and director Jonathan Demme. Other names included Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny of X-Files fame, West Wing cast members Sheen, Janel Moloney, Bradley Whitford and Lily Tomlin, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation actors Marg Helgenberger and Robert David Hall and Ocean’s Eleven cast members Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Elliott Gould and Carl Reiner.

Actors Jessica Lange, Ethan Hawke, Samuel L. Jackson, Jane Kaczmarek, Laurence Fishburne, Alfre Woodard, Danny Glover, Noah Wyle and Téa Leoni also added their names to the list, along with musicians such as R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills, Bonnie Raitt and Peter Yarrow. The letter was signed as well by retired admiral Eugene Carroll Jr. and former US ambassador to Iraq Edward Peck. According to the Los Angeles Times, the open letter originated in a “teach-in” organized by Farrell and director-producer Robert Greenwald in October ….

http://www.moveon.org/artistswinwithoutwar/

THE PETITON LETTER

TO: President Bush SUBJECT: Artists Say Win Without War

__________

War talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary.

We are patriotic Americans who share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous UN weapons inspections to assure Iraq's effective disarmament.

However, a pre-emptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests . Such a war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world. It will make us less, not more, secure.

We reject the doctrine--a reversal of long-held American tradition--that our country, alone, has the right to launch first-strike attacks.

The valid U.S. and UN objective of disarming Saddam Hussein can be achieved through legal diplomatic means. There is no need for war. Let us instead devote our resources to improving the security and well-being of people here at home and around the world.

Signed,

Mike Farrell, Co-Chair

Robert Greenwald, Co-Chair

Gillian Anderson

Edward Asner

Rene Auberjonois

David Bale

Kim Basinger

Ed Begley, Jr.

Theo Bikel

Barbara Bosson

Jackson Browne

Peter Buck (REM)

Diahann Carroll

Eugene J. Carroll, Jr.,

Rear Adm. U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Kathleen Chalfant

Don Cheadle

Jill Clayburgh

David Clennon

Jack Coleman

Peter Coyote

Lindsay Crouse

Suzanne Cryer

Matt Damon

Dana Daurey

Ambassador Jonathan Dean

Vincent D’Onofrio

David Duchovny

Olympia Dukakis

Charles S. Dutton

Hector Elizondo

Cary Elwes

Shelley Fabares

Mike Farrell

Mia Farrow

Laurence Fishburne

Sean Patrick Flanery

Bonnie Franklin

John Fugelsang

Jeananne Garafalo

Larry Gelbart

Melissa Gilbert

Danny Glover

Elliott Gould

Samaria Graham

Robert Greenwald

Robert Guillaume

Paul Haggis

Robert David Hall

Ethan Hawke

Ken Howard

Helen Hunt

Anjelica Huston

LaTanya Richardson Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson

Jane Kaczmarek

Melina Kanakaredes

Casey Kasem

Mimi Kennedy

Jessica Lange

Tea Leoni

Wendie Malick

Camryn Manheim

Marsha Mason

Richard Masur

Dave Matthews

Kent McCord

Robert Duncan McNeill

Mike Mills (REM)

Janel Moloney

Esai Morales

Ed O'’Neill

Chris Noth

Peter Onorati

Alexandra Paul

Ambassador Edward Peck, (former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq)

Seth Peterson

CCH Pounder

David Rabe

Alan Rachins

Bonnie Raitt

Carl Reiner

Tim Robbins

Steve Robinson, Sgt., US Army (Ret.)

Mitch Ryan

Susan Sarandon

Tony Shalhoub

Jack Shanahan, Vice Adm. US Navy (Ret.)

William Schallert

Martin Sheen

Armin Shimerman

Gloria Steinem

Marcia Strassman

Michael Stipe (REM)

Susan Sullivan

Loretta Swit

Studs Terkel

Lily Tomlin

Blair Underwood

Dennis Weaver

Bradley Whitford

James Whitmore

James Whitmore, Jr.

Alfre Woodard

Noah Wyle

Peter Yarrow

Howard Zinn

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